U.S. patent application number 16/525491 was filed with the patent office on 2020-10-01 for supporting device.
The applicant listed for this patent is BENQ CORPORATION, BenQ Intelligent Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Invention is credited to Chin-Fu Chiang, Chih-Wen Li.
Application Number | 20200309188 16/525491 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004219144 |
Filed Date | 2020-10-01 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200309188 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Li; Chih-Wen ; et
al. |
October 1, 2020 |
SUPPORTING DEVICE
Abstract
A supporting device includes a first and a second support, a
fixed washer, and a threaded fastener. The first support has a
threaded structure extending along a rotation axis, and a first
engaging structure. The second support is pivotally connected to
the first support relative to the rotation axis and has a through
hole aligning with the threaded structure. The fixed washer
includes a washer portion and a second engaging structure. The
washer portion is disposed on the second support and aligns with
the through hole. The second engaging structure passes through the
through hole to engage with the first engaging structure. The
threaded fastener presses against the washer portion and passes
through the washer portion and the through hole to engage with the
threaded structure. When the second support and the first support
rotate relatively, the fixed washer and the first support remain
fixed relative to the rotation axis.
Inventors: |
Li; Chih-Wen; (Taoyuan City,
TW) ; Chiang; Chin-Fu; (New Taipei City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BenQ Intelligent Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd
BENQ CORPORATION |
Shanghai
Taipei |
|
CN
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004219144 |
Appl. No.: |
16/525491 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16C 11/04 20130101;
F16M 2200/063 20130101; F16M 13/022 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F16C 11/04 20060101
F16C011/04; F16M 13/02 20060101 F16M013/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 26, 2019 |
CN |
201910230559.6 |
Claims
1. A supporting device, comprising: a first support, the first
support having a threaded structure and a first engaging structure,
the threaded structure extending along a first rotation axis; a
second support, the second support being pivotally connected to the
first support relative to the first rotation axis and having a
through hole, the through hole aligning with the threaded
structure; a fixed washer, the fixed washer comprising a washer
portion and a second engaging structure, the washer portion
aligning with the through hole and being disposed on the second
support, the second engaging structure passing through the through
hole to engage with the first engaging structure; and a threaded
fastener, the threaded fastener presses against the washer portion
and passing through the washer portion and the through hole to
engage with the threaded structure.
2. The supporting device according to claim 1, wherein the first
engaging structure is a recess, the second engaging structure
comprises a protruding block extending perpendicular to the first
rotation axis, and the protruding block and the washer portion are
located at two sides of the through hole respectively.
3. The supporting device according to claim 1, wherein the first
support comprises a protruding shaft, the second support comprises
a shaft socket, the threaded structure is disposed on the
protruding shaft, the first engaging structure is disposed on the
protruding shaft, the through hole is formed on the shaft socket,
and the first support and the second support are pivotally
connected by sleeving the shaft socket on the protruding shaft.
4. The supporting device according to claim 3, wherein the
protruding shaft comprises a shaft body and a wear-resistant
sleeve, the wear-resistant sleeve is fixedly sleeved on the shaft
body, the threaded structure is disposed on the shaft body, the
first engaging structure is disposed on the wear-resistant sleeve,
and the shaft socket sleeves on the wear-resistant sleeve.
5. The supporting device according to claim 1, wherein the through
hole is a counterbored hole, the threaded fastener comprises a
manipulation portion and a threaded rod portion, the threaded
structure is a threaded hole, the threaded rod portion passes
through the counterbored hole and is screwed into the threaded
hole, and the manipulation portion abuts against the counterbored
hole and is exposed out of the counterbored hole.
6. The supporting device according to claim 1, further comprising a
washer abutting against and between the washer portion and the
threaded fastener, the threaded fastener presses against the washer
portion through the washer.
7. The supporting device according to claim 1, further comprising a
third support pivotally connected to the first support relative to
a second rotation axis.
8. The supporting device according to claim 7, wherein the first
rotation axis is parallel to the second rotation axis.
9. The supporting device according to claim 1, wherein the second
support comprises a pivotal connection portion, a linkage portion,
and a supporting portion, the linkage portion connects the pivotal
connection portion and the supporting portion and is rotatable
relative to the pivotal connection portion around a third rotation
axis, the second support is pivotally connected to the first
support through the pivotal connection portion, and the supporting
portion keeps the same angular posture as the pivotal connection
portion through the linkage portion.
10. The supporting device according to claim 1, wherein the first
rotation axis is perpendicular to the third rotation axis.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a supporting device, and
more particularly to a supporting device with a movable joint.
2. Description of the Prior Art
[0002] Many supporting devices (e.g. for supporting monitors) use a
multi-sectional supporting structure for provide adjustable
supporting to the monitor thereon. Each support is usually
pivotally connected to adjacent supports and is fastened with
screws, so as to fix the angles relative to the adjacent supports.
If an adjustment on the relative angle of the support is required,
the screw needs to be loosened first in principle. Then the support
can be rotated until the relative angle reaches a required value.
The screw is screwed tight again for fixing the support. The screw
uses frictional force to fix the supports pivotally connected with
each other, so the supports still can be forced to rotate
relatively. For this case, the rotating support probably rotates
the screw to be loosened, which reduces the fastening effect of the
screw to the support, even making it failed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention provides a supporting device that uses
a structural engagement of a washer with a support to keep the
washer fixed relative to the support, so as to avoid the loosening
problem of the support in the prior art.
[0004] A supporting device according to the invention includes a
first support, a second support, a fixed washer, and a threaded
fastener. The first support has a threaded structure and a first
engaging structure. The threaded structure extends along a rotation
axis. The second support is pivotally connected to the first
support relative to the rotation axis and has a through hole. The
fixed washer includes a washer portion and a second engaging
structure. The washer portion aligns with the through hole and is
disposed on the second support. The second engaging structure
passes through the through hole to be engaged with the first
engaging structure. The threaded fastener presses against the
washer portion and passes through the washer portion and the
through hole to be engaged with the threaded structure. Thereby,
when the second support rotates relative to the first support, the
fixed washer and the first support can remain fixed relative to the
rotation axis, so that the threaded fastener will not be rotated
together with the second support. In other words, the supporting
device according to the invention can effectively solve the problem
in the prior art that the screw will be loosened due to the
relative rotation of the supports.
[0005] These and other objectives of the present invention will no
doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after
reading the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a supporting
device according to an embodiment.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of the supporting device
in FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a side view of a first support and a second
support in FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a fixed washer in
FIG. 2 in another view point.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a wear-resistant
sleeve in FIG. 2.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a section view of the supporting device along the
line X-X in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. A supporting device 1
according to an embodiment is fixed at a table edge 3 (shown by
dashed lines in FIG. 1). A monitor 4 (shown by dashed lines in FIG.
1) is fixed and supported on the supporting device 1. The position
and orientation of the monitor 4 can be adjusted through the
supporting device 1. In the embodiment, the supporting device 1
includes a first support 12, a second support 14, and a third
support 16. The first support 12 is pivotally connected to the
second support 14 relative to a first rotation axis A1 (indicated
by a chain line in FIG. 1). The first support 12 and the third
support 16 are pivotally connected with each other relative to a
second rotation axis A2 (indicated by a chain line in FIG. 1). The
supporting device 1 fixes and supports the monitor 4 through the
second support 14 (e.g. that offers a mount in accordance with VESA
Mounting Interface Standard) and is fixed at the table edge 3
through the third support 16 (e.g. of which an end has a C-shaped
clamp). By the above pivotally connecting mechanism, the projection
position of the monitor 4 on the X-Y plane can be adjusted.
[0013] In the embodiment, the second support 14 includes a pivotal
connection portion 142, a linkage portion 144, and a supporting
portion 146. The second support 14 is pivotally connected to the
first support 12 through the pivotal connection portion 142. The
linkage portion 144 connects the pivotal connection portion 142 and
the supporting portion 146 and can rotate relative to the pivotal
connection portion 142 around a third rotation axis A3 (indicated
by a chain line in FIG. 1). Thereby, the projection position of the
monitor 4 on the Z-axis can be adjusted. In practice, as shown by
FIG. 3, the linkage portion 144 includes two links (of which the
profiles are shown in dashed lines), each of which is pivotally
connected to the pivotal connection portion 142 and the supporting
portion 146, so as to form a parallelogram four-bar linkage so that
the supporting portion 146 can keep the same angular posture as the
pivotal connection portion 142 through the linkage portion 144. In
other words, during the rotation of the second support 14 relative
to the first support 12, the monitor 4 can keep the same
orientation (i.e. the horizontal orientation as shown by FIG.
3).
[0014] Please also refer to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, for
simplification of description, the second support 14 is shown by a
single part. For the pivotal connection of the first support 12
with the second support 14, the first support 12 includes a support
body 122 and a protruding shaft 124 disposed at an end portion of
the support body 122. The pivotal connection portion 142 of the
second support 14 includes a shaft socket 1422. The protruding
shaft 124 and the shaft socket 1422 matches in profile. The shaft
socket 1422 is rotatably sleeved on the protruding shaft 124 for
achieving the pivotal connection of the first support 12 with the
second support 14. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the protruding
shaft 124 includes a shaft body 1242 and a wear-resistant sleeve
1244. The wear-resistant sleeve 1244 is sleeved on the shaft body
1242 (e.g. with a screw screwed on the shaft body 1242). The shaft
socket 1422 is rotatably sleeved on the wear-resistant sleeve 1244,
for reducing the abrasion between the shaft socket 1422 and the
shaft body 1242. In practice, the material of the wear-resistant
sleeve 1244 can be but not limited to POM. The wear-resistant
sleeve 1244 can have an open slot 1244a, which is conducive to
sleeve the wear-resistant sleeve 1244 on the shaft body 1242.
[0015] Furthermore, the first support 12 further includes a
threaded structure 126 and a first engaging structure 128. The
threaded structure 126 is disposed on the shaft body 1242 and
extends along the first rotation axis A1 (i.e. the spiral axis and
the first rotation axis A1 overlap). The first engaging structure
128 is disposed on the wear-resistant sleeve 1244. The
wear-resistant sleeve 1244 has a through hole 1244b. The threaded
structure 126 is exposed through the through hole 1244b. The
pivotal connection portion 142 of the second support 14 further
includes a through hole 1424 formed on the shaft socket 1422 (i.e.
passing through the bottom of the shaft socket 1422) and aligns
with the threaded structure 126. The supporting device 1 further
includes a fixed washer 18 and a threaded fastener 20. The fixed
washer 18 includes a washer portion 182 and a second engaging
structure 184 fixedly connected to the washer portion 182. The
washer portion 182 aligns with the through hole 1424 and is
disposed on the pivotal connection portion 142. The second engaging
structure 184 passes through the through hole 1424 to engage with
the first engaging structure 128. The threaded fastener 20 presses
against the washer portion 182 and passes through the washer
portion 182 and the through hole 1424 to engage with the threaded
structure 126, so as to prevent the shaft socket 1422 from
departing from the protruding shaft 124 (i.e. prevent the first
support 12 from disengaging from the second support 14); that is,
the second support 14 is positioned in the first rotation axis
A1.
[0016] Therein, by the structural engagement of the first engaging
structure 128 with the second engaging structure 184, the fixed
washer 18 and the protruding shaft 124 (or the wear-resistant
sleeve 1244 thereof) are fixed together relative to the first
rotation axis A1 (i.e. they will not relatively rotate relative to
the first rotation axis A1), so that when the second support 14
rotates relative to the first support 12, the threaded fastener 20
that presses against the washer portion 182 will not rotate
together with the second support 14, so as to remain the
positioning effect of the threaded fastener 20 to the second
support 14. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the fixed washer 18 as
a whole shows a T-shaped post substantially, which passes through
the through hole 1424 and the through hole 1244b. The second
engaging structure 184 includes two protruding blocks extending
perpendicular to the first rotation axis A1 (or protruding outward
from the post) and disposed oppositely. The two protruding blocks
and the washer portion 182 are located at the two sides of the
through hole 1424 in the first rotation axis A1. The first engaging
structure 128 and the wear-resistant sleeve 1244 are structurally
integrated (e.g. formed in a single part by injection) and includes
two recesses that are disposed at the circumference of the through
hole 1244b corresponding to the two protruding blocks respectively.
One of the recesses is realized by an end of the open slot 1244a;
the other recess is realized by an indentation at the side wall of
the through hole 1244b. However, it is not limited thereto in
practice. For example, the post portion of the fixed washer 18 has
a non-circular sectional profile (e.g. profiles of polygons,
ellipses and soon) and is regarded as the second engaging structure
184. Correspondingly, the through hole 1244b has a matching
non-circular sectional profile (that can produce structural
constraint effect in coordination with the fixed washer 18, but not
limited to the same profile) and is regarded as the first engaging
structure 128 directly. The two structures also can produce a
structural engagement to produce an effect like the effect
above-mentioned that the fixed washer 18 and the protruding shaft
124 will not relatively rotate relative to the first rotation axis
A1. For another example, the first engaging structure 128 having
the above matching non-circular sectional profile also can be
formed on the shaft body 1242, which also can produce the effect of
preventing the relative rotation between the fixed washer 18 and
the protruding shaft 124.
[0017] In addition, in the embodiment, the threaded structure 126
is realized by a threaded hole, with which the threaded fastener 20
is engaged through a screw rod (i.e. the threaded rod portion 204);
however, it is not limited thereto in practice. For example, the
threaded structure 126 is realized by a screw rod disposed in a
blind hole (e.g. by structurally integrating a screw with the first
support 12 in a way of an insert moulding). The threaded fastener
20 includes a post with a threaded hole correspondingly. This post
can be inserted into the blind hole to make the screw rod engage
with the threaded hole, which also can realize the effect of
screwing the threaded fastener 20 onto the first support 12.
[0018] Furthermore, in the embodiment, the supporting device 1
further includes a washer 22, which can be a common washer or a
spring washer (e.g. but not limited to conical washers, wave
washers, split washers and so on), and abuts against and between
the washer portion 182 and the threaded fastener 20 so that the
threaded fastener 20 presses against the washer portion 182 through
the washer 22, as shown by FIG. 2 and FIG. 6. It is convenient for
a user to rotate the threaded fastener 20 by use of the washer 22
during the engagement of the threaded fastener 20 with the threaded
structure 126 and the disengagement of the threaded fastener 20
from the threaded structure 126. If the washer 22 is realized by a
spring washer, the washer 22 when compressed is conducive to
maintaining the engagement of the threaded fastener 20 with the
threaded structure 126, so as to make the threaded fastener 20
uneasy to be unloosened. For this case, the spring washer can be
replaced with a coil spring in practice. Furthermore, in the
embodiment, the threaded fastener 20 includes a manipulation
portion 202 and a threaded rod portion 204 fixedly connected to the
manipulation portion 202 (e.g. in a way of an insert moulding with
a screw). The threaded structure 126 is a threaded hole. The
threaded rod portion 204 passes through the through hole 1424 and
is screwed into the threaded hole. The user can rotate the
manipulation portion 202 by hand without tools for performing the
engagement of the threaded fastener 20 with the threaded structure
126 and the disengagement of the threaded fastener 20 from the
threaded structure 126. In the embodiment, the through hole 1424 is
a counterbored hole. The washer portion 182 and the washer 22 are
accommodated in the counterbored hole. The manipulation portion 202
is partially accommodated in the counterbored hole and is exposed
out of the counterbored hole, which has an aesthetic appearance and
convenience of manipulation.
[0019] Furthermore, in the embodiment, for simplification of
description, the pivotal connection of the first support 12 with
the third support 16 is the same as the pivotal connection of the
first support 12 with the second support 14, which will not be
described in addition. However, it is not limited thereto in
practice. For example, the first support 12 and the third support
16 are pivotally connected with each other by a pin joint, or in
other ways. Furthermore, as shown by FIG. 1, in the embodiment, the
monitor 4 is supported and fixed on the supporting device 1. The
position and orientation of the monitor 4 can be adjusted through
the supporting device 1. Therein, the first rotation axis A1 is
parallel to the second rotation axis A2. The first rotation axis A1
is perpendicular to the third rotation axis A3. The supporting
portion 146 further makes adjustment available relative to a fourth
rotation axis A4 (also parallel to the first rotation axis A1).
Thereby, the user can substantially adjust the position and
orientation in the space of the monitor 4 through the supporting
device 1. Therein, the geometric relations (including relative
positions, angles and so on) between the rotation axes A1, A2, A3
and A4 depend on actual applications, which will not be described
in addition. Furthermore, the supporting device 1 of the embodiment
is illustrated based on the conditions that the supporting device 1
is fixed on the table edge 3 and supports the monitor 4. However,
it is not limited thereto in practice. For example, the supporting
device 1 can be fixed and supported on a wall or ground through a
proper modification on the supporting device 1 (e.g. modifying an
end of the third support 16 to be an anchorage structure or a
supporting base). For another example, the supporting device 1 can
be used for supporting a carrier (e.g. used as a work platform or
used for supporting other devices) through a proper modification on
the supporting device 1.
[0020] Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous
modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made
while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the
above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes
and bounds of the appended claims.
* * * * *